The daily herald. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1886-1887, 1887-01-22
Suburban, JANUARY q, lS8z
THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.
Lecture by Mr.. John T. Arundel.


Last evening the Y. NJ. c. A. hall
was filed with the most intelligent
audience Honolulu can afford, to hear
Mr.. John T. Arundel, late owner Of
the steamer Samoa, le ture on "The
Pacific Islands" 1t was pleasantly
spoken relation, in conversational style,
of facts acquired mostly by actual OBJ
servation Of the lecturer, full of charm
ing description, touching allusion and
engaging incidents.
Mr.. Arunders talk about Samoa was
peculiarly interesting to the audience,
in view Of the Hawaiian Embassy
lately landed on that group Tamasese
he facetiously described as sort Of
vice king Malietoa, the monarch in
possession, was man approach
ing the description Of our Kane
hameha /. English naval officers
had introduced the game Of cricket
and it took finely with the natives, who
played not eleven but hundred on a
side. 1t was the finest thing in the
world to get the South Sea Islanders to
do anything Of physical nature. A
long petition was drawn up to the
Queen Of England, asking that, if the
islands had to give up their independ-
ence, they should come under the do
minion OF Queen Victoria. The Ger
man merchants, annoyed at this petit
ten, demonstrated with the chiefs
about it, but the only answer they re-
ceiyed from the Samoans was that they
we're not going to do anything until
they had received reply to their petit
ton but to play cricket. Mr.
Arundel took the Explorer into the
harbor of Pangopango, which he de-
scribed as beautiful landlocked sheet
resembling Scotch loch. He wanted
to paint the vessel but could not owing
to five or six hundred natives swarming
on board. Baffled in all designs for
getting rid of the swarthy visitors, APP
peal was finally made to the young and
handsome chiefess Munga, about whom
a war had since arisen, and the noble
lady made proclamation that inter
dicted all corners from appearing
in the harbor next day. Under this
tabu the vessel was painted in solitude.
Mr.. w. H. Webb, owner Of the Pacific
mail line formerly running, had told
him that when the large steamship
Nebraska entered Pangopango harbor,
Notwithstanding the wonderful spectacle
steam vessel of five or six thousand
tons was to the native eye, yet it being
Sunday, not single canoe came of-a
remarkable tribute to the religious de-
votlon of the people 1t may be inter
esting to the lecturer and his hearers
to know that Mr.. r. w. Lame, Spanish
and Mexican consul here, confirmed
this incident to our reporter in the hall
last night, he having been on board
the Nebraska on that occasion. A
strange phenomenon was described, in
the appearance once year, either
October or November, of myriads Of
worms called the "palolo," rising out Of
the water just before sunrise, which the
natives secure in large quantities for
food. The appearance Of the "palolo"
only occurs a few days and ceases the
moment the sun rises each day. In
the Gilbert Islands the worm also
makes its advent, but few months
earlier than in Samoa. Leave was
taken of this group in reference to
its future, over which a commission was
now sitting in Washington. The Sa-
means had nothing to fear since they
had come under the wings of Hawaii
Coming to Tonga, the venerable
King George still lived, although ailing
at last accounts. He was over ninety
years of age, nearer seven than six feet
in height, and born ruler Of men. A
complimentary reference was made to
the administration Of the Rev. Smiley
Baker as Prime Minister, although he